Well, I am someone who likes to stay within my comfort zone n try to save troubles n balance between money n convenience.. I wouldn't say I'm a perfectionist, but I can frankly say that I have OCD.
As a foreigner to work in a foreign country, finding a good room for myself is essential. I'm not writing to discriminate or what, but just a guideline for myself if happen to meet some problems again..
This is d list of criteria that I would take into consideration:
1) children below 12 years old
2) pets
3) window facing direction
4) smokers or religions thingy that produce odor
5) landlord hobby, if watch tv, where is d tv n until what time
6) near main road or train track? D noise n d dust
7) use of wifi, washing machine, fridge, n kitchen for water n light cooking
8) room size n furniture n layout, with any beam
9) landlord behavior n attitude n flexibility n education level n background
10) cleanliness
11) other tenants
12) room privacy, corridor room, sound prove or louvre
13) housing area environment n ppl who hang around there
14) near to train station
15) drying area for clothing privacy
16) air circulation
I'm currently staying in 895A woodlands drive 5zero, level 9 corner house, got air con, but room facing west..my windows have to always be covered with cardboard or laundry.. afternoon no sleeping, or would wake up in a puddle of sweat.. everything inside d room would get spoiled or dried up due to long exposure under d sun..
Another thing is children..d children will auto be alarm 7am particularly during weekends when u thought u can a bit longer..they laugh, they play still OK..Although also very noisy.. but when d girl cries, she can't stop... I will feel like slap her every time she cry... n d mom would yell n scold d children...
so if u happen to look for a room at 895A woodlands drive 5zero, level 9 corner unit, a local Chinese couple with a boy n a younger daughter... then u know u r in d room that I'm mentioning.. good luck..
Another thing quite important.. cleanliness.. they clean occasionally, but d kids would make sure d place is always dirty..
no facing main road or even sub road, as d dust u can't imagine how they get in even all windows n door tightly shut.. n d noise when motor bike n buses pass by...u would feel like jump down..
Another thing is make sure d fridge u r allocated a slot...or u would realized ur food accidentally gone missing..
Then d landlord OK with renting out d room for u or not, or just money making.. d landlord would warn d tenant n ask to reduced electricity usage..but they on d lights fans, n went out few hours without anybody using.. Well... speechless...
D reason I moved out, was due to my tenancy being terminated..I admit it was my fault, I deeply apologized, due to I talked over d phone loudly until over 12am that I didn't realize it was so late.. so d guy landlord scolded me vulgar words, f my mother, n say this is his house, he can chase me out anytime.. of course, after that incident, I start looking for room d..
next day I was depressed, so I went out chit chat n dinner n supper with friends.. when I went back it was late, n I saw there's one more bicycle lock added with d door that without doubting, I do not have d key... I was panic..I dunno how..if I call or d knock d door n wake them up, they would f me one more time..
So I waited..I thought wait until next morning.. someone sure will open d door.. but until 430am..I find I shouldn't wait anymore.. my phone battery is draining d also.. so I Google d nearest police station, it was at least 2.5km away n I walked there, very very chilly in d middle of d night with shorts n slipper..
I reached there, but d duty officer was not willing to help. He said what do I want them to help? They can't do anything unless d landlord refused to pay d deposit.. so I collapsed.. I almost cry out..he asked me to call my landlord, but nobody picked up.. then later only he took my particular n offered to send someone over to help me..
I walked back n called him..n waited for 30min for another 2 officers to reach..so they knocked d door very loudly n woke d guy landlord.. they took my ic n landlord ic n contact number to do checking n jot down d copy..
Then of course, d landlord gave those bull shit excuses for adding extra lock.. but obviously..I'm not someone so easy to bully.. d day after next, d wife, a Malaysian, text me to terminate my tenancy, with d starting of msg "I am very very sorry for incident last night".. please la... don't say sorry over incident that u doing on purpose.. I feel very ewwy..
After that I able to find a room cheaper n no kids one!!! Not facing west also.. haven't move in, but at least I know I won't be facing same problems again.. problems that come should be new challenges for me...
It was my fault that I decided to bear d unhappiness because I thought I'm a foreigner.. d kids r super duper noisy.. n facing west with d dust..OMG..can die.. I have paid too much extra... no more careless mistake anymore...
